Toilet flush tank intake valve



Oct. 31, 1961 E. A. LISTER 3,005,359

TOILET FLUSH TANK INTAKE VALVE Filed Nov. 20, 1958 Fig./

Fig.2

E vereff A. Lister 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,006,359 TOILET FLUSH TANK INTAKE VALVE Everett A. Lister, 75 Giralda Walk, Long Beach 3, Calif. Filed Nov. 20, 1958, Ser. No. 775,225 2 Claims. (Cl. 137332) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toilet flush tank intake or supply valves of the float operated type and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means for controlling the inflow of water without the use of washers or gaskets.

Another very import-ant object of the present invention is to provide a flush tank valve of the character described comprising a seat and a plug or valve member engageable therewith, said plug or valve member being rotatable by the incoming water with each flushing operation for grinding itself and the seat to insure against leakage.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a toilet flush tank intake valve of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation 'as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation of a valve constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the device installed in a flush tank;

FIGURE 2 is a view principally in vertical section rough the lower portion of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 33 of FIGURE 1, looking downwardly, as indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a view in horizontal section taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 1, looking upwardly, as indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 5 is a view in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that reference character 6 designates a conventional toilet flush tank. Connected to the bottom 7 of the tank 6 is a water supply pipe 8. Reference character 9 designates the usual overflow pipe in the tank 6.

The embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises a fill pipe 10 in the tank 6 having its lower end connected to the supply pipe 8. The fill pipe 10 includes a downwardly bent upper end portion 11. Threadedly mounted on the end portion 11 of the fill pipe 10 is a removable, substantially conical seat 12.

Pivotally mounted at 13 on the upper portion of the fill pipe 10 is a lever 14. The lever 14 includes a substantially U-shaped member or yoke 15 which is pivotally mounted at an intermediate point at 13 on the upstanding brackets 16 which are aflixed to the fill pipe 10. Connected to the bi ht portion of the member 15 is a rod 17 having mounted on its free end a suitable float 18. Mounted on the bend 19 of the fill pipe 10 is a substantially U-shaped stop or rest 20 in which the member 15 is engageable for positively limiting the downward move ment of the float 18.

Secured in any suitable manner on the lower portion of the fill pipe 10 is a bracket 22. A rocker arm 23 is pivotally and removably secured, as at 24, on the bracket 22. The rocker arm 23 comprises a pair of duplicate, angulated bars 25 including inwardly oifset intermediate ice portions 26 (see FIGURE 3) which receive the bracket 22 therebetween. The bars 25 straddle the fill pipe 10.

An inverted T-shaped link 27 operatively connects the pivoted end portion of the float lever 14 to one end portion of the rocker arm 23. One end of the link 27 is pivotally and detachably connected at 28 to the float lever 14. The head 29 on the inverted T-shaped link 27 is pivotally and detachably secured at 30 between one end portion of the bars 25.

Journaled between the other end portions of the bars 25 is a rockable bar or block 31. The rockable bar, block or member 31 comprises reduced end portions or trunnions 32 which are journalled in openings provided therefore in the bars 25 Cotter pins 33 removably secure the bar 31 between the bars 25.

The bar 31 has formed therein at an intermediate point a conical socket or bearing 34. Mounted on the bar 31 is a substantially conical valve 35 which is operable in and engageable with the seat 12 for controlling the discharge of water from the fill pipe 10. The valve 35 is removably mounted on a stem or spindle 36 comprising a conical lower end portion 37 (see FIGURE 2) which is journaled in the bearing 34. The lower or base portion of the conical valve 35 is provided with fins or vanes 38.

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, when the toilet is flushed, the float 18 drops with the level of the water in the tank 6 until arrested by the stop 20. As the float lever 14 thus swings downwardly the link 27 is elevated for actuating the rocker arm 23 in a direction to permit the valve 35 to drop to open position away from the seat 12. Water under pressure now enters the tank 6 from the pipe 10. The inflowing water, passing the valve 35, strikes the fins or vanes 38 and rapidly rotates said valve in an obvious manner. As the tank 6 refills the float 18 is again raised and the valve 35, still rotating, is elevated to closed position on the seat 12 through the link 27 and the rocker arm 23. Due to the dispersal of the incoming water by the conical valve 35 and the fins or vanes 38 thereon, the tank 6 refills almost silently. The seat 12 and the valve 35 may, of course, be of any suitable material or materials.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A toilet flush tank intake valve comprising a generally inverted U-shaped filler pipe having one end portion connected to a supply pipe, a rocker arm pivotally secured, at an intermediate point, on said one end portion of said filler pipe, a valve seat on the discharge end of the filler pipe, a float arm pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point, on the bend of the filler pipe, means comprising a link operatively connecting said float arm to one end of the rocker arm, a bearing on the other end of the rocker arm, a vertical spindle journaled in said bearing, a valve on said spindle engageable with the seat for controlling the discharge of water from the filler pipe, and fins on the valve for engagement by the Water for rotating said valve.

2. A toilet flush tank intake valve comprising a generally inverted U-shaped filler pipe having one end portion connected to a supply pipe, a bracket mounted on said one end portion of said supply pipe, a rocker arm mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane on said bracket, said rocker arm including a pair of duplicate,

angulated bars pivotally secured, at an intermediate point, to the bracket, one end portion of said bars straddling the filler pipe, a float arm pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point, on the bend of the filler pipe, means comprising a link operatively connecting said float arm to said one end portion of the bars, a bearing journaled for rocking movement between the other end portions of said bars, a vertical spindle journaled on said bearing, a valve on said spindle engageable in the other end of the filler pipe for control-ling the discharge of Water therefrom, and fins on the valve for engagement by the water for rotating said valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS McHugh Jan. 1, 1884 Rappold Feb. 12, 1884 Deimel Oct. 28, 1890 Scott Nov. 10, 1896 Koch Oct. 3, 1911 Gunn Feb. 28, 1922 Oakley Mar. 21, 1933 Mahler May 11, 1937 Wallner Nov. 15, 1949 Nelson Aug. 12, 1958 

